MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) Shares Acquired by Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V.

Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. grew its holdings in MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 35.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 34,765 shares of the industrial products company's stock after buying an additional 9,123 shares during the quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. owned 0.09% of MSA Safety worth $5,763,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 225.8% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,008 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $830,000 after buying an additional 3,471 shares in the last quarter. Mesirow Institutional Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Mesirow Institutional Investment Management Inc. now owns 15,298 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,536,000 after buying an additional 373 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 9.0% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 22,120 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $3,667,000 after buying an additional 1,821 shares in the last quarter. Natixis increased its position in shares of MSA Safety by 1,255,000.0% during the fourth quarter. Natixis now owns 25,102 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $4,161,000 after purchasing an additional 25,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in MSA Safety by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 760,794 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $126,118,000 after purchasing an additional 4,734 shares during the last quarter. 92.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. This trade represents a 16.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of MSA Safety from $175.00 to $161.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, MSA Safety has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $194.20.

MSA Safety Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MSA traded up $0.34 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $153.66. The company's stock had a trading volume of 227,399 shares, compared to its average volume of 176,553. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $150.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $161.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a current ratio of 2.79. The company has a market cap of $6.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.31 and a beta of 0.97. MSA Safety Incorporated has a 12-month low of $127.86 and a 12-month high of $200.61.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 28.64%. On average, analysts forecast that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Profile

MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide.